The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in partnership with the National Youth Commission (NYC), and support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), will hold the ASEAN Youth Summit 2026 on August 5 and 6 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
“As part of its chairship of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), the DSWD wants to promote an enabling environment for young people to participate and strengthen their competencies to become responsible users of artificial intelligence (AI), new media, and other emerging technologies,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the DSWD spokesperson, said on Tuesday (August 4).
The two-day summit aims to provide a platform to empower young people and strengthen their competencies in digital literacy, online ethics, and responsible innovation.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao said that while technology creates many opportunities, the DSWD also recognizes the challenges that come with it such as the proliferation of fake news, online scams, cyberbullying, privacy concerns, and the growing impact of social media on mental health.
“These are real issues affecting young people not only in the ASEAN region, but globally. To address these, we want to promote digital resiliency among the youth, with the ultimate goal of helping them distinguish facts from misinformation, protect themselves online, understand their digital rights, and use technology responsibly and ethically,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao stressed.
The Youth Summit will focus on the following key themes and discussion points: Critical Digital Literacy for an Informed ASEAN Youth; Digital Resilience and Mental Well-being in the Online World; Youth Empowerment in Digital Governance; and, Using Technology for Advocacy and Innovation.
Around 300 participants from various ASEAN Member States, including youth leaders, institutions, development partners, and representatives from local youth sectors are expected to attend the event.
The ASEAN Youth Summit is part of the major activities of the DSWD’s chairship of the ASCC, under the "Smart Youth and Innovation" thematic framework.
The event is also supported by the Social Protection, Inclusion, and Gender Equality (SPRING) Program, the Joint SDG Fund, and the Embassy of the United States of America. (AKDL)
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